An environmental adventure

Known for his kids' books with an environmental slant, Carl Hiassen's Scat is another winner.  Nick and Marta can't stand their biology teacher, Mrs. Starch.  However, after a fire cuts short the class field trip to Black Vine Swamp, they're still concerned when the nasty woman disappears.  One of their classmates, bad boy Duane "Smoke" Scrod, Jr., is accused of setting the fire, and soon the story involves a rare Florida panther, an unscrupulous oil company with a bonehead president, and an environmentally-minded millionaire.  The plot development was great, and I liked the way the author combined aspects of both adventure and mystery.  Did you know that "scat" has more than one meaning?  Read this, and you'll find out.